Political polls shows approval rating for Governor McDonnell

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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Virginia's statewide elections are going to be some of the most watched in the upcoming cycle as the swing state battles are expected to be close. Among them the battle for governor, and two of Virginia's most recognizable politicians have stepped up to the plate. Today a new poll shows Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is way ahead of Lt. Governor Bill Bolling.

"Today Ken Cuccinelli is in real good shape," said Peter Brown with the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"I think everyone is a bit surprised that a 51 - 15 lead as this poll says," said Holsworth. "I tend not to take these polls too seriously when they are so early."

However name recognition may be helping Cuccunelli and ultimately hurting Bolling.

"He (Bolling) doesn't have the independent political profile that Ken Cuccunelli has, and that's going to be something he (Bolling) is really going to have to pay attention to over the next six months."

The poll also reveals current Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's job approval is not faring well. At 53 percent it matches the lowest approval rating of his term.

"It's still one of the highest approval rating of any governor in the nation," said Holsworth.

But which republican gubernatorial hopeful possibly succeeds McDonnell will only be revealed after Virginia voters cast their ballots.

The registered voters were polled from May 30 to June 4. There is a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

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Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor?